White cauliflower (Cleome gynandra L.) Annual erect branched herb. No thorns. Leaves are palmately compound of 3-7 leaflets, margins serrulate or glandular ciliate; petiole 2-7 cm long; no stipules. Racemes 15-30 cm long, floral bracts composed of 3 leaflets; pedicels ca. 1.5 cm; sepals glandular hairy; petals white, rarely yellowish or lavender, clawed; disk paniculate; stamens projecting beyond corolla. Fruit terete; 3-8 cm long. Seeds subcompressed globose, black-brown. Not arillate. Fl. and fr. ca. July-Oct. Widely distributed species in China from Hainan Island straight to the vicinity of Beijing, and from Yunnan to Taiwan, probably native to the paleotropics, but now globally tropical and subtropical. Is a low altitude village side, roadside, wasteland or field common weeds and medicinal plants in Asia, Africa, a few areas occasionally cultivated for vegetables, can also be pickled. Seed powder is like mustard for medicinal use. The whole herb is used as medicine, with a bitter, pungent and slightly toxic flavor. (Overview image source: 1)